Lily Tomlin’s Footprints to Be Immortalized on Hollywood Blvd.

The out star and activist will be honored for her career and philanthropy as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

www.advocate.com/people/2020/2/14/lily-tomlins-footprints-be-immortalized-hollywood-blvd

Why I’m totally OK with being alone this Valentine’s Day (Seriously!)

Have you seen the 1998 movie Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett? It ends with Queen Elizabeth I realizing that all men are either gay or liars, then breaking up with her boyfriend and declaring herself a virgin. She ends up with full ownership over her body and, like, England.

I’ll circle back to that. First, let’s revisit a time when I was also a virgin.

It’s Valentine’s Day, 2004. I haven’t yet lost my virginity in the bathroom of a roller-skating rink. I haven’t yet broken up with my first boyfriend, after five days of closed mouth kissing, in the middle of a swim meet. I haven’t yet come out to my friends, my family, my girlfriend; haven’t yet been scorned, spat on. I’ll spend this Valentine’s Day at swim practice.

I often picture myself with another man. We’re always lying down and looking at the stars in that mountain field that Julie Andrews dances in at the beginning of The Sound of Music. He’s always blue-eyed, brown-haired, freshly back from the ocean. The ocean is where his wife lives. He’s Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid.

I never will meet a guy quite like Prince Eric, but I will cycle through every openly gay kid at my high school. I’ll even date a guy who gets an ‘E’ in biology and thinks Pride & Prejudice is a law firm. He’ll break up with me after I accidentally swerve our car into an oncoming van. I’ll think of him every day for the rest of my life. Just kidding. I’ll hate him.

Cut to: Valentine’s Day, 2008. A full-blown alcoholic now (read more about that HERE), I only dream of Prince Eric when I’m hammered. Sometimes I just spend entire nights crying, wondering why I can’t at least have Aladdin. As for this Valentine’s Day, I spend it drunkenly freeing the mice from my college biology lab. I watch them happily sniff each other; I am their savior. I kiss one, thinking it might transform into a man and date me. It gives me pneumonia.

Valentine’s Day, 2016. I strain to see Prince Eric in the man I’m living with. He’s a closeted Mormon alcoholic who gets a girl pregnant after we first have sex just to convince people he’s heterosexual. He shows his love for me by playing Radiohead songs on the piano and getting angry every time I threaten to move out. We live in Norfolk, Virginia.

I will ultimately come to hate him. I’ll direct a play–despite having no directing experience–just to avoid him. I’ll drink every morning, every night. I’ll drink myself out of a job. I’ll stop sometimes to remember those first lingering glances over Tecates, those long chats about The Purple Rose of Cairo. Then I’ll black out.

The first time I publicly tell him I love him, he’ll say, “I love you too, man.” Then he’ll pat me on the shoulder and stumble inside to kiss a girl.

In private, he’ll tell me he needs me and I’ll believe him.

Valentine’s Day, 2019. I’ve escaped to New York. I’ve quit drinking and have been celibate for a year–at first voluntarily, then involuntarily (read about more about that HERE). Sobriety, I’ve found, is anathema to many queer men in New York. Still, though, I dream of Eric.

After all, I’ve come all this way, defied the odds, defeated my demons; surely I can find the love of my life now!

But I will not. Not yet. I will be ghosted, dumped, used, rejected. I’ll imagine gorgeous, Bong Joon-Ho-directed futures starring men I’ll never see again.

Let’s jump once more–to Valentine’s Day, 2020.

I’ve just watched Elizabeth while adult-coloring. I wanted something pretty and British to look at every time I finished coloring a cow brown, but suddenly, I found myself glued to the screen, neglecting the melting crayon in my hand. After all, here was a woman who’d chosen–perhaps not willfully, but proudly–to live a life of integrity. She’d sworn never again to cloud her judgment with a love unworthy of her.

Now, I’m no queen–just a princess–but I’ve got stuff going on. I’ll spend this Valentine’s Day doing volunteer work at SAGE, a center for LGBTQ seniors, just like I do every Friday afternoon. Maybe I’ll also finish a short story, or jump in on an improv show, or push myself a bit at the gym. Or maybe I’ll just lie back and let my wounds heal. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, after all these depressing Valentine’s Days, it’s that sometimes it’s better to be alone.

Evan Lambert is a Staff Writer for Topix.com. His Twitter handle is @evlams, and he’ll start tweeting again if, like, five people follow him after this. 

www.queerty.com/im-totally-ok-alone-valentines-day-seriously-20200214?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

3 Perfect Days: 3 Key West Itineraries For the LGBTQ Traveler

There are plenty of reasons to make Key West a priority for your 2020 travel. From the welcoming LGBTQ community to the unique, tropical surroundings, it’s the perfect place for LGBTQ travelers to let it all hang out (sometimes literally).

SPONSORED POST

Its proximity to Miami and other southern Florida (and Cuban) destinations make it a popular stop on extended trips. Whether you’re in Key West for a day, a long weekend or more, we’ve put together some simple one-day itineraries to help maximize your time. Mix and match or spread them out over the course of a few days, but here are some of our must-see sights.

For the Culture Vulture
The wacky, tacky t-shirt shops of Duval Street are hardly reflective of the breadth of history, arts and culture thriving in Key West. Island-based artists capture the gorgeous landscape in stunning paintings and photographs. Musicians, drag queens and cabaret performers pack out their theaters for evenings.

If you’re under a time crunch, there are a few stops that are must-sees. For example, no trip to Key West is complete without a tour around the historic Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. Thirty-minute tours run all day, and the guides are knowledgable and dynamic. Take a short walk around the corner for a stop at the Tennessee Williams Exhibit. The legendary gay writer spent some of his happiest and most productive years in Key West, and this modest exhibition offers a really enriching, self-guided tour heavy on interesting artifacts from Williams’ life.

All that enrichment is sure to work up an appetite. Santiago’s Bodega sounds like the name of a great place to grab a bacon-egg-cheese sandwich and a lotto scratch-off, but don’t let the name fool you. The eclectic tapas spot is a favorite on the island. Inspired by Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the artistic flare extends to the lively atmosphere, hand-crafted decor and, of course, ingenious, contemporary cuisine with global flavors. It should be a crime to leave Santiago’s Bodega without an order of the Saganaki — a delicious dish with haloumi cheese at its center, served with brandy a la flambée.

Don’t stress about the calories or carbs. You can work off a bit of the meal with a short walk (a little over a half-mile) to the Harry S. Truman’s Little White House. A mercifully apolitical adventure, this important historical landmark offers a glimpse into Truman’s personal quirks, like a concealed poker table, while also honoring the parts of Key West Truman held so dear. Similar to the Hemingway House, the guided tour really enhances the experience.

From there, you’re not far from the Waterfront Playhouse. The intimate, 150-seat theater has hosted professional productions of Monty Python’s Spamalot, Twelve Angry Men, Equus, Urinetown and more. In March, you can catch Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Tickets are a fraction of Broadway’s prices, and the promise of exiting the theater into paradise (versus the throngs of Times Square) make it a much more pleasant experience.

For the Outdoor Adventurer
Talk to anyone in Key West (including the Mayor), and they’ll say you simply must get out on the water. There’s no better way for gay travelers to get on the water than with BluQ. The gay-owned and operated company has a men-only sail where swimsuits are optional. Snorkel among tropical fish and take a guided kayak tour through the mangroves. The entire excursion lasts about five hours, so it’s a significant chunk of your day. Beverages and lunch are provided, however, and the experience is well worth clearing your calendar.

Upon your return mid-afternoon, keep the aquatic adventure rolling with a stroll over to the Key West Aquarium. It’s the perfect place to learn more about the ecosystem you were just visiting with BluQ in a well-maintained space that’s easy to explore. Keep an eye out for regular opportunities to interact with and feed the wildlife.

A trip to the aquarium also puts you right in Mallory Square for sunset. Feel the breeze and watch the sun dip below the horizon alongside other travelers, locals and street performers.

Depending on your personal walking threshold, you can walk, ride-share or hop on the free Duval Loop Bus to the other side of the island for dinner. Louie’s Backyard serves up fine-dining with even finer views. The prime waterfront location, innovative cocktails and romantic atmosphere has garnered praise from Fodor’s, Frommer’s and more.

After dinner (and, let’s be honest, dessert, too), walk on over to the famed Southernmost Point. You won’t get the standard blue skies and bluer waters shot everyone else does, but you also will skip a lot of crowds queued up for their turn by the buoy. (Plus, your nighttime Instagram shot will look extra moody and romantic by comparison.)

For Those Up For Anything
Winding down is many vacationers’ primary objective. However, for some folks, the best way to relax is by turning up. Leave the suit and tie behind, and embrace the celebratory spirits of the island.

If you’ve only got one day to wring the most out of your trip to Key West, make it a Sunday. It may seem counterintuitive for weekend warriors used to raging Friday and Saturday nights. Don’t be mistaken: You can absolutely get lit any night in Key West, but, for a good sampling of the variety available, Sundays are best.

That’s partially due to Island House’s massive Sunday pool party drawing guests of the men-only, clothing-optional resort as well as locals. Even if you’re not staying at Island House, start the day with breakfast at the café. The food is great, and it gives you a perfect view of the pool to monitor when the party starts to pick up. The drinks flow freely, dangerously tasty shots are passed around and raffles keep spirits high. Trade your swimsuit for your birthday suit, and mix and mingle at one of the friendliest gay parties on Earth.

The Sunday tea dance at LaTeDa is also worthy of that superlative, but it makes a lot of sense, since the timing of the two events means the party moves en masse from Island House to LaTeDa where DJs spin a mix of ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and contemporary gay anthems for a multigenerational crowd on the dancefloor.

Make sure you’re not doing too much drinking on an empty stomach with a stop at Point5, the upstairs lounge of popular restaurant Nine One Five. (Local cabaret legend Randy Roberts had high praise for their walnut pistachio tacos served on romaine.)

Since you’re already on Duval Street, you have plenty of options to keep the party going after the sun has gone down. For drag, you can catch a show nightly at Aqua or 801 Bourbon Bar. If you’re looking for something a little randier, the go-go boys are on full display at Bourbon Street Pub, and the backyard boasts a (usually) men-only, clothing-option garden bar with pool and jacuzzi.

True night owls can bring on the dawn at Bobby’s Monkey Bar, a local institution and welcoming gay/straight mixed crowd makes this no-frills watering hole a good time for all. Karaoke is nightly and goes late, the bar closes at 4:30 a.m..

The post 3 Perfect Days: 3 Key West Itineraries For the LGBTQ Traveler appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

3 Perfect Days: 3 Key West Itineraries For the LGBTQ Traveler

NEW SURVEY RESULTS: Tennesseans Agree that Anti-LGBTQ Legislation is a Waste of Time

Today, HRC released new survey results showing Tennesseans’ broad opposition to anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state’s legislature. 

“For years, a group of extreme lawmakers have been targeting LGBTQ people in Tennessee, spreading misinformation and using vicious, harmful rhetoric while doing so,” said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “These anti-LGBTQ lawmakers have been trying to use any legislative vehicle possible to target and single out LGBTQ people in Tennessee. Yet, as these new survey results show, most people in Tennessee have no interest in pursuing divisiveness for the sake of divisiveness, and think that anti-LGBTQ bills are a solution in search of a problem. Elected officials should be looking out for all of their constituents, not targeting the most vulnerable among them to appeal to a shrinking population.” 

“The support we receive in cities like Martin, Dickson, Murfreesboro, and Morristown confirms these poll results,” said Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project. “Rural and urban voters know that Tennessee can’t succeed by stigmatizing LGBTQ people with attack legislation. It’s time for the Legislature to put these old battles behind us so we can build our state together.”

Full results here and below. 

On behalf of the Human Rights Campaign, Change Research surveyed 893 likely voters in Tennessee from January 30-31 in order to understand their reaction to the anti-LGBTQ legislative agenda being pushed by state legislators. A majority of voters oppose these anti-LGBTQ bills and support policies that protect the rights of LGBTQ Tennesseans.

• Voters, including Republicans, are not demanding laws like this, and say legislators are too focused on divisive issues instead of real problems. Just 4% of all voters and 1% of Republicans say that “regulating transgender rights” is among the most important issues for the Tennessee state government to address, the least important policy priority tested. Further, a 62% majority – including majorities of voters across age, race, gender, and education divides – say that “Legislators are too focused on divisive issues and should be focusing on pressing issues that will actually have an impact on Tennesseans, like growing the economy.” 
• The issue that Tennessee voters prioritize most is healthcare costs (41%), and a 55% majority disapprove of the job Republican leaders in the state are doing handing their #1 issue.
• Voters decisively reject anti-transgender legislation. Majorities oppose proposed legislation that would discriminate against LGBTQ people, and strong opposition is greater than strong support for each of these policies.
• Tennessee voters express clear opposition to policies that seek to regulate transgender minors. A 63% majority opposes a medical care ban for transgender minors, and 56% oppose a bill requiring the State Attorney General to defend anti-LGBTQ policies in Tennessee schools. Majorities also reject proposals that would make it legal for Tennesseans to discriminate against LGBTQ people. Six-in-ten voters oppose Tennessee’s new anti-LGBTQ adoption law, with strong opponents outnumbering strong supporters two-to-one. A 56% majority also opposes granting businesses a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people. 
• Tennesseeans instead support new laws to protect the rights of LGBTQ people and a more inclusive view of society. A 57% majority of Tennessee voters say that “We need to stop stigmatizing transgender people as a society” and majorities support new policies that would protect the rights of transgender people. An overwhelming 72% of voters support “Protecting LGBTQ people against discrimination in the workplace,” and 49% strongly support this. 
• These divisive, anti-LGBTQ bills reinforce for voters the negative things they think about Tennessee elected officials. A 57% majority disapprove of the job that Governor Lee and Republicans in the State Legislature are doing handling LGBTQ rights and just 26% say those leaders “respect the rights of LGBTQ people.” With voters supporting a more inclusive and less divisive agenda, it is no wonder that just 38% say Governor Lee and state legislators “share my values” and 55% say they are “out of touch.”

www.hrc.org/blog/survey-results-tennesseans-agree-that-anti-lgbtq-legislation-is-a-waste?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The GLAAD Wrap: ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ and ‘And Then We Danced’ in theaters; new music from Sam Smith, Kehlani, Peppermint, and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-portrait-lady-fire-and-and-then-we-danced-theaters-new-music-sam-smith-kehlani

Sam Smith serves up gorgeous new ballad and details of third album

 

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A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmith) on Feb 10, 2020 at 7:11am PST

Sam Smith has dropped their latest track and revealed the release date of their new album.

On their social media channels yesterday, they posted an image – presumably cover art – with the message: “My THIRD album TO DIE FOR is yours May 1st!!!! You can preorder tomorrow.

“I‘m more proud of this album than anything I’ve ever done. I’ve really set myself free the last two years whilst writing this & I hope you can dance and relate to these stories. It’s all for you, always xx”

After the success of 2019’s “Dancing With A Stranger” and “How Do You Sleep”, the British singer previously announced their third album – a follow-up to 2017’s The Thrill Of It All, would be a more dance-oriented affair.

That may still turn out to be true, but lead single, also titled “To Die For”, finds Smith crooning the sort of big ballad that many of their fans are sure to love.

Related: Sam Smith takes down Twitter troll in just three words

Early this morning, Valentine’s Day, the track and video went online. Directed by Grant Singer, the video features Smith as a singing mannequin head in a store window. The head watches passing couples and moments of intimacy between people while opining about just wanting to find “someone to die for.”

Smith’s social media reference to setting themselves free could relate to many things but is likely to include their coming out last year as non-binary and asking people to use they/them pronouns about them.

Smith has also been public about learning to love their body, posting photos to social media to promote body positivity.

Related: Sam Smith posts body positivity message on Instagram

The track “To Die For” is a follow-up to Smith’s last track, a cover of Donna Summer classic “I Feel Love”. Smith will next perform live as one of the special guests at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday, February 29.

www.queerty.com/sam-smith-serves-gorgeous-new-ballad-details-third-album-20200214?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29